Chemical or Physical Change?

So we have been studying all kinds of changes in our world. Looking at the difference between physical and chemical changes. We posted pictures of our latest chemical change, elephant toothpaste, and then today we had some fun with physical changes. Now, making smores can be both a physical and chemical change but today we just explored the physical change. When you melt a marshmellow and chocolate you create a physical change (no new substance is formed). The only thing you have done is melted them both. So instead of a campfire we used a microwave to create some yummy physical changes. I will let you judge how much they enjoyed this activity!!!

Ooey - gooey goodness!



 How do I even start to eat this???

I think I really like this physical change!

Anticipation....watching those marshmellows get HUGE!

It sure was worth the wait!

I can't believe that teacher would take my picture looking like this!!!  There was a moment I was glad my students did not have the camera! I got marshmellow all over my face too!

Disclaimer: Making smores in the microwave can be addicting! Make sure you watch them or they can explode in your microwave! ENJOY!

Decimals

We've been studying decimals in math lately and having lots of fun with all kinds of games and activities (long gone are the days of worksheets all the time). On this day we were comparing decimals and deciding which was greater than, less then, or maybe even equal. It was a fun activity that everyone enjoyed. We will be seeing these mats again with fractions, but for now, do you know which is greater....567.6 or 567.589??? Correct answer......567.6. If you don't know why, I bet your child can explain it to you...or at least I hope they can!!!

Elephant Toothpaste!

We have been studying physical and chemical changes in science class and last week we made elephant toothpaste! Ask your student if this creates a chemical or physical change (correct answer: chemical change). We had lots of fun and lots of "oohs and ahhs!"  It is easy to make at home:

Elephant Toothpaste

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (stronger than 3% is suppose to give a big reaction, but we liked the 3% peroxide the best...that's what you buy in any store)
1 T dry yeast
3 T warm water
1 squirt liquid dish soap
food coloring if desired

Mix water and yeast in small container and set aside.  In soda bottle pour the peroxide, detergent, and a few drops of food coloring.

Pour in your yeast mixture and look for a great change!
Now, go brush an elephant's teeth!!! :)

This is easy and lots of fun. It is also very easy to clean up!

Benchmark Testing

This week we will be involved in Benchmark Testing each day. Benchmarks are designed to see what our students have actually retained over the nine weeks and help us as teachers to see what we need to hit a little bit harder. Benchmarks are set up similar to CRCT testing to help relieve some of that stress when CRCT actually gets here. This week we will begin testing by 8:30 each morning and will test as follows:

• Monday - Reading
• Tuesday - English Language Arts
• Wednesday - Math
• Thursday - Science
• Friday - Social Studies

Now....I know you are all waiting for pictures and recipes for Elephant Toothpaste but that will have to wait till this evening!  SORRY!  I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel which has taken all my time this week end. I promise to post tonight.

Along that science thread if you haven't sent in something for our smores (chemical change), we still need graham crackers for our homeroom. We will do this hopefully on Tuesday...which means MORE pictures! Thanks!

Next Week

I have no new pictures for this week.  It was a pretty hectic week with some testing and a day out for me. Stay tuned for some pictures next week. Time to do some experiments and centers during this first week of October. Should be a great week!

NOTICE: TESTS

JUST A REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE TWO TESTS TUESDAY. A UNIT TEST IN MATH AND A CHAPTER TEST IN SCIENCE. STUDENTS HAVE COMPLETED STUDY GUIDES FOR BOTH TESTS. PARENTS, IF YOU STUDY WITH YOUR STUDENT AND SIGN THEIR STUDY GUIDES THEY WILL RECEIVE 3 BONUS POINTS ON THEIR TESTS!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

#4... I lied, I was waaaay behind!

At the end of our mini unit on states of matter we did stations one day. Stations are like centers, however, with stations there are no time limits. With stations you move when you complete a task and go to the next station of your choice. We had three stations last week and three grades! If you look, this doesn't look like traditional quiz taking, but it was on this day! By the way, they have great science grades!

They never look this engaged on a paper and pencil quiz!

Sorting the three states of matter.

Cut and paste on the three states of matter.

Vocabulary sort.

A very productive couple of days in science. Very engaged...and they were even quiet most of the time!!! :)